Trigger type dispenser

Abstract

To provide a trigger type dispenser capable of confirming whether or not a trigger is fraudulently operated without using a shrink film.SOLUTION: A trigger type dispenser includes: a dispenser body 2 having a trigger part 14 that can swing back and forth disposed forward of a mounting cap 4 for mounting to a container body 100; a nozzle part 18 disposed on the forward side of the dispenser body 2; and a tamper-evident member 20 having an intermediate body 44 attached to the dispenser body 2 and horizontally disposed in a space E between the mounting cap 4 and the trigger part 14 when the trigger part 14 is not operated. The intermediate body 44 is elongated in the forward / backward direction, and a rear end thereof is a fixing end 46 supported in association with the mounting cap 4. The intermediate body is irreversibly displaced from a state of extending forward from the fixing end 46 by operating the trigger part 14, tilting forward and downward.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a trigger-type dispenser. [Background technology]

[0002] In order to prevent fraudulent activities (unauthorized use and tampering), trigger-type dispensing containers are packaged in whole or in part in an appropriate packaging material (Patent Document 1, paragraph 0002). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2006-96392 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In recent years, the cost of packaging containers with shrink film has increased, so there has been a demand for a tamper-proof mechanism that does not use packaging means. Patent Document 1 discloses a sealing cover that covers an attached cap screwed onto the mouth and neck of a container body, and seals the lower end of the attached cap with a sealing band, making it impossible to rotate the cap when it is sealed. However, the sealing cover is a technology to deal with tampering, and does not guarantee that the trigger has not been used tampering. It is also desirable to make the traces of tampering more clearly visible.

[0005] The first object of the present invention is to provide a trigger-type dispenser that makes it possible to check for tampering with the trigger without using shrink film, and the second object is to provide a trigger-type dispenser that leaves clearer evidence of tampering with the container body. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The first means includes a dispenser body 2 having an attachment cap 4 for attachment to a container body 100 that contains liquid, and a trigger part 14 that is swingable in the front-back direction and disposed in front of the attachment cap 4; A nozzle portion 18 is disposed on the front side of the dispenser main body 2 and has a nozzle hole 19 for spraying the liquid in the container body 100. a tamper-evident member (20) attached to the dispenser body (2) and having an intermediate body (44) arranged horizontally in a space (E) between the mounting cap (4) and the trigger portion (14) when the trigger portion (14) is not operated; The intermediate body 44 has a long shape in the front-to-rear direction, and its rear end serves as a fixing end 46 supported in conjunction with the mounting cap 4. When the trigger portion 14 is operated, the intermediate body 44 is configured to tilt forward and downward from a state in which it extends forward from the fixing end 46, and to be irreversibly displaced.

[0007] As shown in FIG. 1(A), this means comprises a tamper-evident member 20 attached to the mounting cap 4 of the dispenser body 2 and having an interposer 44 disposed in the space E between the mounting cap 4 and the trigger portion 14 when the trigger portion 14 is not operated. The intermediate body 44 has a long shape in the front-to-rear direction, and its rear end serves as a fixing end 46 supported in conjunction with the mounting cap 4. When the trigger portion 14 is operated, the intermediate body 44 is configured to tilt forward and downward from a state in which it extends forward from the fixing end 46, and to be irreversibly displaced. With this structure, the posture (or location) of the intervention body can be visually confirmed, making it possible to accurately determine whether or not it has been used fraudulently.

[0008] the second means has the first means, and the tamper-evident member 20 is formed of an exterior body 22 mounted around the mounting cap 4, and the intermediate body 44 protruding forward from the exterior body 22 via an easily deformable portion 40 continuing with the fixing end portion 46, When the trigger portion 14 is operated, a sliding end portion 48 which is the front end portion of the intermediate body 44 slides downward along the trigger portion 14, and the easily deformable portion 40 is plastically deformed so as not to be restored.

[0009] In this means, as shown in FIG. 1(A), the tamper-evident member 20 is formed of an outer body 22 fitted around the mounting cap 4, and the intermediate body 44 protruding forward from this outer body 22 via an easily deformable portion 40 that is continuous with the fixing end portion 46. When the trigger portion 14 is operated, a sliding end portion 48 which is the front end portion of the intermediate body 44 slides downward along the trigger portion 14, and the easily deformable portion 40 is plastically deformed so as not to be restored. According to this structure, the intermediate body 44 is maintained in an inclined state by the trigger operation, so that it is possible to reliably determine whether or not there has been unauthorized use.

[0010] The third means has the second means, and the easily deformable portion 40 is formed as a plurality of weakened portions 41, 42 arranged spaced apart from each other in the width direction of the intermediate body 44 between the fixing end portion 46 and the outer casing 22, and a slit 43 is drilled between the fixing end portion 46 and the outer casing 22 in the portion other than these weakened portions 41, 42.

[0011] 1(B), the easily deformable portion 40 is formed as a plurality of weakened portions 41, 42 spaced apart from each other in the width direction of the intermediate body 44 between the fixing end portion 46 and the exterior body 22. In the portion other than these weakened portions 41, 42, a slit 43 is formed between the fixing end portion 46 and the exterior body 22. According to this structure, even if a collision force due to dropping or the like acts, the stress is dispersed among the multiple weakened parts, so that, for example, the easily deformable part 40 is unlikely to break during transportation. Therefore, the unauthorized use indication function can be properly maintained until the consumer checks for unauthorized use when purchasing the product.

[0012] The fourth means includes any one of the first means to the third means, and the tamper-evident member 20 includes an exterior body 22 provided around the mounting cap 4 which is mounted on the mouth and neck portion 104 erected from the shoulder portion 102 of the container body 100; The exterior body 22 has a flexible tamper-evident protrusion 34 disposed in a pre-opening position adjacent to the outer peripheral surface 8 of the lower end side of the mounting cap 4, This tamper-evident protrusion 34 is formed so that when the attachment cap 4 is attached to the mouth and neck portion 104, the outer casing 22 is pressed against the shoulder portion 102, and is subjected to upward and outward stress at the pressed point, thereby urging it inward, and so that when the attachment cap 4 is removed from the mouth and neck portion 104, it remains tilted inward from the pre-opening position.

[0013] 1(A), the present invention has an exterior body 22 mounted around the attachment cap 4. The exterior body 22 has a flexible tamper-evident protrusion 34 disposed adjacent to the outer circumferential surface 8 of the attachment cap 4 in a pre-opening position. As shown in FIG. 5(A), when the attachment cap 4 is attached to the mouth / neck portion 104, if the outer casing 22 is pressed against the shoulder portion, the tamper-evident protrusion 34 is biased toward the attachment cap (see FIG. 5(B)). Furthermore, even when the attachment cap 4 is removed from the mouth / neck portion 104, the tamper-evident projections 34 remain in the inclined state due to their natural shape, and are inclined inward from the pre-opening position (see FIG. 5(C)). According to this structure, when the attachment cap 4 is reattached (recapped) to the mouth and neck portion 104, the tamper-evident protrusion 34 is crushed and bent inward between the attachment cap 4 and the shoulder portion 102, as shown in Fig. 5(D). This is clearly visible as a trace of tampering, so it can be reliably determined that tampering has occurred.

[0014] The fifth means has the fourth means, and the outer casing 22 is formed by connecting a oscillating piece 30 to the surrounding ring 24 that surrounds the mouth and neck portion 104 via an outward support piece 28, and this oscillating piece 30 has the tamper-evident protrusion 34 on the upper side and a pressure contactor 36 for the shoulder portion 102 on the lower side, and when the mounting cap 4 is attached to the mouth and neck portion 104, the pressure contactor 36 is pressed against the shoulder portion 102, whereby the tamper-evident protrusion 34 is pressed against the outer peripheral surface 8, and is configured to irreversibly tilt inward when the mounting cap 4 is removed.

[0015] In this means, as shown in FIG. 3(B), the exterior body 22 is connected to an enclosing ring 24 for surrounding the mouth and neck portion 104 via an outward support piece 28, and to a rocking piece 30 having a tamper-evident projection 34 on the upper side and a pressure contact piece 36 for contacting the shoulder portion 102 on the lower side, as shown in FIG. 3(A). When the attachment cap 4 is attached to the mouth / neck portion 104, as shown in Figure 5(B), the pressure contactor 36 is pressed against the shoulder portion 102, causing the tamper-evident protrusion 34 to be pressed against the outer peripheral surface 8, and when the attachment cap 4 is removed, the protrusion 34 irreversibly tilts inward as shown in Figure 5(C). According to this structure, the pivoting of the rocking piece 30 utilizing the pressure of the pressure contact piece 36 against the shoulder portion 102 can ensure the projection / retraction indication action of the tamper-evident projection 34. Effect of the Invention

[0016] According to the present invention, it is possible to check whether or not the trigger has been tampered with without using a shrink film, and it is also possible to leave clearer evidence of tampering with the container body. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0017] [Figure 1] 1 shows the configuration of a trigger-type dispenser according to an embodiment of the present invention, with FIG. 1A being a side view and FIG. 1B being a bottom view. [Diagram 2]2 shows the configuration of the dispenser shown in FIG. 1, in which FIG. 2A is a front view and FIG. 2B is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a main part of the front view. [Diagram 3] 2 shows the configuration of the main part (tamper-evident member) of the dispenser shown in FIG. 1 at the time of molding, where FIG. 2(A) is a side view, FIG. 2(B) is a plan view, FIG. 2(C) is a front view, and FIG. 2(D) is a cross-sectional view seen from the side. [Figure 4] 4 is an explanatory diagram of the action against unauthorized use of the dispenser shown in FIG. 1. FIG. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of the effect of the dispenser shown in FIG. 1 against tamper-evident opening, in which (A) shows an intermediate stage in the process of initially attaching an attachment cap equipped with a tamper-evident member to the mouth and neck portion, (B) shows the stage when said attachment has been completed, (C) shows the stage when the attachment cap is removed from the mouth and neck portion after said attachment, and (D) shows the stage when the attachment cap has been reattached to the mouth and neck portion after said removal. BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THEINVENTION

[0018] 1 to 5 show a trigger-type dispenser according to an embodiment of the present invention. This dispenser is attached to a container body 100 that stores liquid. For example, in conventional gardening products, the mouth of the bottle is covered with shrink film as described above to prevent unauthorized use and tampering such as mixing a different liquid with the original content, but when the dispenser of the present invention is used, unauthorized use and tampering can be easily confirmed from the outside without using shrink film. Before describing the configuration of the trigger-type dispenser, the configuration of the container body 100 will be described. In the illustrated example shown in Fig. 5, the container body 100 has a mouth and neck part 104 that rises from the body part via a shoulder part 102. The upper surface of the shoulder part 102 is formed into a gentle slope downward and outward from the lower end of the mouth and neck part 104. A locking protrusion 106 for locking a protrusion receiving part 26 described below is provided around the lower part of the mouth and neck part 104. In addition, it is preferable to provide a male screw part (not shown) on the upper part of the mouth and neck part. The trigger type dispenser comprises a dispenser body 2, a nozzle portion 18, and a tamper evident member 20. Each of these members can be made of, for example, synthetic resin or metal. Note that the term "tamper" here refers to the illegal act of "tampering with something without permission," and in this specification, it applies to both illegal use (tampering with the trigger) and illegal opening. Tamper evident refers to a function that makes it clear that an illegal act has been performed without permission.

[0019] The dispenser main body 2 is a member to be attached to the mouth and neck portion of the container body 100 shown by imaginary lines in FIG. 2(A), and has a discharge port 10c that opens forward at a position higher than the attachment point, as shown in FIG. 1(A). In this specification, for convenience, the left side of Fig. 1(A) will be referred to as "front", the right side as "rear", and the direction perpendicular to the paper surface as "left and right". Most of the configuration of the dispenser main body 2 is publicly known, so it will be described briefly. In this embodiment, the dispenser body 2 includes an attachment cap 4, a body portion 10, a piston 12, a trigger portion 14, and a cover member 16. The attachment cap 4 is a cylinder that can be fitted (e.g., screwed) onto the outer surface of the mouth / neck portion 104. The outer peripheral surface 8 on the lower end side of the attachment cap 4 is a portion for abutting the tamper-evident protrusion 34 described below. In the illustrated example, the lower end 6 of the attachment cap 4 has a slightly larger diameter than the portion above an annular upward step 7. The step 7 is a portion for engaging with a claw-like rib n of the exterior body 22 described below. A plurality of vertical grooves 5 are formed in the portion above the step 7. The body 10 stands upright from inside the mounting cap 4. The body 10 includes at least a vertical supply tube 10a (see FIG. 1(B)) extending upward from inside the mounting cap 4, a horizontal cylinder 10b protruding horizontally from the vertical middle of the vertical supply tube, and a horizontal supply section (not shown) extending forward from the upper end of the vertical supply tube, and the discharge port 10c opens at the front end of the horizontal supply tube. Check valves (not shown) are provided upstream and downstream of the connection point between the vertical supply tube and the horizontal cylinder 10b. The piston 12 is disposed inside the horizontal cylinder 10b so as to be movable forward and backward. A connecting portion 13 for connecting to a trigger portion 14 is protruded forward from the piston 12. The trigger portion 14 is vertically mounted so as to be swingable in the front-rear direction with its upper end supported at a suitable position near the discharge port 10c. A means for biasing the trigger portion 14 forward is provided between the trigger portion 14 and the body portion 10. By swinging the trigger portion 14 (called a trigger operation), liquid can be sucked up from within the container body 100 and discharged from the discharge port 10c. In the illustrated example, the trigger portion 14 is formed by projecting a pair of left and right side plate portions 14b from both sides of a vertically long, band-shaped front plate portion 14a. The back surface 15 of the trigger portion 14 (the rear surface of the front plate portion 14a in the illustrated example) is a portion for sliding contact with a sliding end portion 48 described later. As shown by the dotted line in Fig. 1, this back surface 15 is gently inclined downward and forward in the state of Fig. 1(A) (a state in which the trigger portion 14 is not operated). By utilizing this configuration, as described later, when the trigger portion 14 is pulled rearward, the sliding end portion 48 described later slides downward. The cover member 16 covers the upper surface and the left and right side surfaces of the body portion 10 .

[0020] The nozzle portion 18 is a member disposed on the front side of the dispenser main body 2, and has a nozzle hole 19 for spraying the liquid in the container body 100 by communicating with the discharge port 10c. In addition, in the trigger-type dispenser of the present invention, the structures of the dispenser body 2 and the nozzle portion 18 are basically the same as those of the conventional configuration, and in this regard, the dispenser can be manufactured without changing the existing assembly process, filling process, and equipment.

[0021] The tamper-evident member 20 is a member having a function of indicating that a tampering has occurred (a tamper-evident function), and is attached to an appropriate position of the dispenser main body 2 (the mounting cap 4 in this embodiment). In this embodiment, the tamper-evident component 20 is composed of an exterior body 22 and an intermediate body 44, as shown in Fig. 1. In the illustrated example, the exterior body 22 and the intermediate body 44 are integrally connected. However, these structures can be appropriately changed, and the exterior body 22 and the intermediate body 44 may be incorporated into the dispenser main body 2 as separate bodies. The tamper-evident member 20 is configured so that it can be set after the configuration of an existing trigger-type dispenser (the dispenser main body 2 to which the nozzle portion 18 is attached) is completed.

[0022] The exterior body 22 is a portion that is mainly fitted onto the peripheral surface and the lower surface of the mounting cap 4, and the intermediate body 44 is attached to and supported by the dispenser main body 2 via this portion. In this embodiment, the exterior body 22 serves as a support means for the intermediate body 44, and also serves to enable visual confirmation of traces of tampering by the tamper-evident projections 34 described below. In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 3 (B), the outer casing 22 has a connecting arm 38 that supports the intermediate body 44 erected from a part (the front part in the illustrated example) of the surrounding ring 24 that surrounds the mouth and neck portion 104, and a rocking piece 30 having the tamper-evident protrusion 34 is arranged on the outside of the surrounding ring 24. However, these configurations can be modified as appropriate. For example, when the latter of the two functions of checking for tampering with the trigger and checking for tampering with the mounting cap 4 is not required, the configuration of the rocking piece 30 can be omitted, and a connecting arm 38 supporting the intermediate body 44 can be erected from a part of the surrounding ring 24 fitted onto the mounting cap. In the following description, the structure related to tampering will be explained first, and the structure related to the rocking piece 30 will be described later.

[0023] The surrounding ring 24 is a member that surrounds the periphery of the mouth / neck portion 104, and is disposed at an appropriate position (on the lower surface side of the lower end portion 6 in the illustrated example) of the lower end portion 6 of the attachment cap 4. However, this arrangement can be changed as appropriate. The surrounding ring 24 in the illustrated example is disposed via a rocking piece 30 fitted onto the outer peripheral surface 8 of the lower end side of the mounting cap 4. This structure can be modified as appropriate, and the surrounding ring 24 may be directly fitted onto the mounting cap 4.

[0024] In this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 3(D), the connecting arm 38 is erected close to the front surface of the mounting cap 4 and near the upper end of the mounting cap 4 via a connecting protrusion 27 protruding forward from the front part of the surrounding ring 24. However, these structures can be modified as appropriate. In the illustrated example, the connecting arm 38 and the connecting protrusion 27 are formed wide and long in the circumferential direction when viewed from above. An easily deformable portion 40 is formed on the upper portion of the connecting arm 38, which connects the connecting arm 38 and the intermediate body 44 in a bendable manner.

[0025] The easily deformable portion 40 is a portion that connects the upper portion of the connecting arm 38 and the rear end portion of the intermediate body 44 (a fixing end portion 46 described later). The easily deformable portion 40 has a rigidity sufficient to support a horizontal intermediate body 44 in a cantilever position as shown in Figure 3 (D) when the trigger portion 14 is in an unoperated state (meaning a state in which the trigger portion 14 has not yet been pulled backward). In this embodiment, the easily deformable portion 40 is formed so that when the intermediate body 44 is displaced from a horizontal state to a state inclined downward and forward direction as shown in Fig. 4 in response to the initial operation of the trigger portion 14 (meaning the operation of pulling the trigger portion 14 for the first time), as described below, the easily deformable portion 40 is plastically deformed in a recoverable manner without being cut by the operation. However, a mode in which the intermediate body falls off due to the breakage of the easily deformable portion at the time the trigger portion is operated as described below is not excluded from the scope of the present invention. This is because it is clear from the appearance of the intermediate body falling off that the trigger portion has already been operated. Here, "without being disconnected" means that it is not disconnected by a trigger operation. Therefore, the easily deformable portion 40 may be strong enough to be broken when a purchaser of the product intentionally pulls the intermediate body 44 downward when using the trigger-type dispenser of the present invention. The cutting operation can be carried out not only from the state shown in FIG. 4 after plastic deformation, but also from the state shown in FIG. 1(A) before plastic deformation. The term "plastic deformation" refers to a deformation that occurs when an external force is applied to an object and that remains even after the external force is removed. The easily deformable portion 40 is damaged by the plastic deformation, and is no longer able to perform its original function of supporting the intermediate body in a cantilevered state. According to this configuration, when the trigger unit 14 is tampered with, the intermediate body 44 remains tilted downward and forward when viewed from the side between the trigger unit 14 and the exterior body 22. Therefore, there is a large difference in appearance compared to the state in Fig. 1, and it is easy for a consumer to recognize that tampering has occurred. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3(B), the easily deformable portion 40 is formed by a plurality of weakened portions 41, 42 arranged apart from each other in the width direction of the intermediate body 44 when viewed from above. In the illustrated example, the easily deformable portion 40 is formed by a first weakened portion 41 in the center and two second weakened portions 42 in the left and right side portions as shown in Fig. 3(B). As shown in Fig. 3(D), the first weakened portion 41 is disposed at the lower edge of the center, and the second weakened portions 42 are disposed at the upper edges of the left and right side portions. Further, between the intermediate body 44 and the connecting arm 38, a slit (cut) 43 is formed in the portion other than the weakened portions 41, 42. According to this configuration, even if the product is subjected to an impact due to an unexpected drop during transportation, the impact force is distributed to the multiple weakened parts 41, 42, so the weakened parts are less likely to be cut compared to a case where a single weakened part is provided between the intermediate body 44 and the connecting arm 38, and since the first weakened part 41 and the second weakened part 42 are arranged at different heights, they are even less likely to be cut. Therefore, the unauthorized use indication function can be properly maintained until it is needed (when a consumer checks for unauthorized use when purchasing a product).

[0026] The intermediate body 44 is a portion that is arranged horizontally in the space E between the mounting cap 4 and the trigger portion 14 when the trigger portion 14 is not operated, and is supported in a cantilever manner on the connecting arm 38 via the easily deformable portion 40. In this specification, with regard to the intermediate body 44, the "horizontal direction" is sufficient as long as it is approximately horizontal to an extent that it can be distinguished from a state in which the deformable portion 40 is plastically deformed and inclined downward toward the front, as shown in Fig. 4. Similarly, the "horizontal state" includes an approximately horizontal state. The rear end of the intermediate body 44 is a fixing end 46 , which is connected to the connecting arm 38 via the easily deformable portion 40 and is fixed in conjunction with the mounting cap 4 . The front end of the intermediate body 44 is a sliding end 48. In the state shown in Fig. 1(A), this sliding end 48 is close to the back surface 15 of the trigger portion 14, and as shown in Fig. 4, by pulling the trigger portion 14 backward, the sliding end 48 comes into contact with the back surface 15 and receives a downward stress f from the contact point, causing the back surface 15 to slide downward. In the illustrated example, the intermediate body 44 is attached to the lower end 6 of the mounting cap 4 via the exterior body 22 described above, but it may be attached to another portion of the dispenser main body 2 (for example, near the upper part of the mounting cap 4). In that case, instead of the connecting arm, an assembly part attached to the dispenser main body 2 may be connected to the intermediate body 44 via the easily deformable part 40.

[0027] The shape of the intermediate body 44 will now be described. As shown in FIG. 3(A), the intermediate body 44 has a shape that is long in the front-rear direction when viewed from the side. 3(C), the intermediate body 44 is formed in a downward arc-like gutter shape when viewed from the front. The first weakened portion 41 is disposed at the center, which is the lowest position of the arc, and the pair of second weakened portions 42 are disposed at both ends, which are the highest positions. In this way, because there is a difference in height between the locations where the second weakened portions 42 and the first weakened portions 41 are formed, and because the higher second weakened portions 42 are disposed on both sides of the lower first weakened portion 41, the supporting force for the intermediate body 44 is improved compared to a structure in which the same number of weakened portions are disposed at the same height. Note that even if the front shape of the exterior body 44 is not the above-mentioned downward arc shape, the same effect can be obtained by combining higher weakened portions and lower weakened portions. 3(B), the intermediate body 44 has a narrow tip portion 44b protruding from a wide base portion 44a via a stepped reduced width portion r. The tip portion 44b is a portion that is inserted between a pair of left and right side plate portions 14b of the trigger portion 14. However, these shapes can be changed as appropriate.

[0028] According to the above configuration, in a container (called a trigger-type dispenser) in which the dispenser of the present invention is dispensed into a container body, when the trigger portion 14 is not yet in use, the intermediate body 44 is oriented horizontally when viewed from the side, as shown in Figure 1 (A). When the trigger portion 14 is pulled rearward, the back surface 15 of the trigger portion 14 comes into contact with the front end portion (sliding end portion 48) of the intermediate body 44, and then the sliding end portion 48 slides downward along the back surface 15, causing the easily deformable portion 40 to plastically deform and displacing the intermediate body 44 to a downwardly and forwardly inclined state. Here, the term "displacement" includes not only the manner in which the intermediate body 44 transitions from a horizontal state to a state inclined forward and downward (displacement inside the cavity), but also the manner in which the easily deformable portion 40 breaks as a result of the forward and downward tilt, and the intermediate body 44 falls out of the cavity E (displacement outside the cavity). Therefore, during the distribution process of the product, it is possible to visually check the posture (or location) of the intermediate body 44 and determine whether or not tampering has occurred based on whether the intermediate body 44 is horizontal or inclined downward and forward (or has fallen out of the gap). The intermediate body 44 is disposed in the space E between the mounting cap 4 and the trigger portion 14, and is in a location that is easily visible when viewed from the side, making it difficult to overlook any traces of unauthorized use. When a user uses a trigger-type dispensing container, the container can be used with the tamper-evident member 20 attached. The intermediate body 44 remains inclined downward and positioned in the void E, and does not interfere with the operation of the trigger portion 14 even if the container is used in this state. Of course, the container can also be used with the easily deformable portion 40 broken and the intermediate body 44 removed.

[0029] Next, of the configuration of this embodiment, the structure of the rocking piece 30 for checking for tampering will be described mainly with reference to FIG. 3 which shows the shape at the time of molding. As shown in FIG. 3(B), the rocking piece 30 is attached to the tip of a deformable (plastically bendable and deformable) support piece 28 that projects radially outward from the surrounding ring 24. As shown in FIG. 3(D), this rocking piece 30 has a tamper-evident protrusion 34 on the upper side and a pressure-contact piece 36 for the shoulder portion 102 on the lower side, and is configured so as to be able to rock up and down by deformation of the support piece 28. The tamper-evident projection 34 is located slightly inside the lower end of the pressure contact piece 36, and is configured to be biased inward when the pressure contact piece 36 receives an upward and outward stress. Here, "upward and outward stress" includes only upward stress and only outward stress. Therefore, when the attachment cap is fitted to the mouth-neck portion, the rocking piece 30 is configured so that the pressure contact piece 36 slides outward along the shoulder portion 102 from the position shown by the imaginary line in Figure 5 (B) to the position shown by the solid line, and a rotational torque is generated which moves the lower half of the rocking piece 30 outward and the upper half inward. Further, the deformable support piece 28 is formed so that the tamper-evident projection 34 can tilt inwardly and irreversibly.

[0030] In this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 3(B), a plurality of rocking pieces 30, which are arc-shaped when viewed from above, are arranged around the surrounding ring 24 with a certain gap g therebetween and concentrically with the surrounding ring 24. The rocking pieces 30 have the same circumferential length and the same width. According to this configuration, any of the tamper-evident protrusions 34 can be seen from all directions around the surrounding ring 24. In the illustrated example, as shown in Fig. 3(A), the rocking piece 30 has a base plate portion 32 connected to the support piece 28, and the base plate portion 32 is formed as a horizontal and flat strip having an elongated arc shape. The opposing ends of adjacent base plates 32 are connected to each other by a flexible and thin circumferential connecting piece 33. As shown in FIG. 3B, the support piece 28 is connected to the intermediate portion in the longitudinal direction of the arc-shaped base plate portion 32, and a pressure-contact piece 36 is attached to the underside of the intermediate portion. As shown in FIG. 5A, the pressure contact piece 36 is formed into a rounded claw portion that narrows downward when viewed in the circumferential direction. This shape allows the rocking piece 30 to be smoothly pressed against the shoulder portion 102 while the rocking piece 30 rocks, as shown in Figs. 5(B) to 5(C). In addition, the pressure contact piece 36 has a constant width over the entire length in the protruding direction (downward direction) when viewed from the radial direction. The pressure contact piece 36 is an example of a pressure contactor as defined in the claims. The pressure contactor is located below the center of rotation (the connecting portion between the support piece 28 and the surrounding ring 24 in the illustrated example) in order to bias the tamper-evident protrusion 34 described below inward, and may have any structure as long as it is a force-receiving portion that receives a force from below inward.

[0031] A flexible, thin, plate-like tamper-evident projection 34 projects from the inner edge of the base plate 32 over the entire length of the base plate in the longitudinal direction. The role of this tamper-evident protrusion 34 is to clearly indicate traces of tampering by changing its external appearance from a state that is visible around the attachment cap 4 (see Figure 5(B)) to a state that is not visible (see Figure 5(D)) when the attachment cap 4 is tamper-evident and then reattached, as described below.

[0032] In the form in which the tamper-evident member is molded, as shown in FIG. 3(D), the tamper-evident protrusion 34 is in the form of a vertical wall, and in the illustrated example, is formed in the shape of a wing. 5(B), the tamper-evident projection 34 has a free end 35 at its tip (upper end) side for pressing against the outer circumferential surface 8 at the lower end side of the attachment cap 4. On the inner circumferential side of this free end 35, claw-like ribs n that protrude inward are formed in the circumferential direction. As described above, these claw-like ribs n are engaged with the step portion 7 of the attachment cap 4. This prevents the tamper-evident member 20 from slipping out of the attachment cap 4.

[0033] The inner periphery of the surrounding ring 24 is formed to be slightly smaller in diameter than the maximum outer diameter of the mouth-neck portion 104 (the diameter at the portion where the locking protrusion 106 is attached). This inner periphery serves as a protrusion receiving portion 26 that engages with the underside of the locking protrusion 106. The protrusion receiving portion 26 is formed so as to ride over the locking protrusion 106 when the attachment cap 4 is attached as shown in Fig. 5(A), and to engage with the underside of the locking protrusion 106 as shown by the imaginary line in Fig. 5(C) when the attachment cap 4 is removed from the mouth-neck portion 104. As a result, the tamper-evident projection 34 falls off from the outer peripheral surface 6 on the lower end side of the attachment cap 4 , and the tamper-evident member 20 moves from the attachment cap 4 to the shoulder portion 102 of the container body 100 .

[0034] The tamper-evident protrusions 34 are configured to receive an inward rotational torque and lean against the outer peripheral surface 8 of the attachment cap 4 in the position before the attachment cap 4 is opened (hereinafter referred to as the "pre-opening position") shown in Fig. 5(B). Therefore, when the attachment cap 4 is pulled out, the tamper-evident protrusions 34 tilt from the pre-opening position and fall inward as shown in Fig. 5(C). Fig. 5(C) shows the state in the middle of falling, and the protrusions are provided to fall further inward, to an extent that they can sufficiently crush the recap described below. After the tamper-evident projection 34 falls inward, it does not return to its pre-opening position even if the attachment cap 4 is removed. Next, when the attachment cap 4 is reattached, the lower end 6 of the attachment cap 4 comes into contact with the upper end (free end 35) of the tamper-evident protrusion 34. The strength of the tamper-evident projection 34 is designed to be such that it is crushed (squished) as shown in FIG. 5(D) when pressed down by the mounting cap 4 during reattachment. In this way, when the attachment cap 4 is tamper-evidently opened and reattached, the tamper-evident protrusion 34 changes from a state in which it is exposed around the outer peripheral surface 8 of the lower end side of the attachment cap 4 as shown in Fig. 5(B) to a state in which it is retracted to the lower side of the attachment cap 4 as shown in Fig. 5(D). Therefore, it exhibits an entrance / exit indication effect in which the appearance is visibly changed. The difference between these two states is obvious in appearance, so evidence of tampering can be clearly seen from the outside.

[0035] To summarise the operation of the above-mentioned configuration, when mounting cap 4 of the trigger-type dispenser is first attached to neck portion 104, protrusion receiving portion 26 of surrounding ring 24 climbs over locking protrusion 106 of neck portion 104, and pressure contact piece 36 abuts against shoulder portion 102 and slides outward along shoulder portion 102, causing a rotational torque to act on swinging piece 30, resulting in a pre-opening position in which tamper-evident protrusion 34 is pressed against outer circumferential surface 8 of neck portion 104. In this state, tamper-evident protrusion 34 is exposed around neck portion 104, indicating that the container is still unopened. When the attachment cap 4 is pulled out from the mouth / neck portion 104, the tamper-evident projections 34 are tilted further inward from the pre-opening position. When the attachment cap 4 is reattached to the mouth / neck portion 104, the tamper-evident projection 34 is crushed by the lower end portion 6 of the attachment cap 4. In this state, the tamper-evident projection 34 is not exposed around the attachment cap 4, indicating that the container has already been opened. By visually checking either of these two states, consumers can reliably determine whether or not the package has been tampered with.

[0036] According to the above-mentioned configuration and action, the intermediate body 44 arranged in the space E between the mounting cap 4 of the dispenser main body 2 and the trigger portion 14 is irreversibly displaced by operation of the trigger portion 14, so that by visually checking the state (posture) of the intermediate body, it is possible to accurately visually check whether or not there has been unauthorized use. An intermediate body 44 protrudes forward from the exterior body 22 attached to the mounting cap 4 via an easily deformable part 40, and the easily deformable part 40 is deformed irreversibly by trigger operation, so that it is possible to reliably determine whether or not there has been unauthorized use. Since the easily deformable portion 40 is formed by a plurality of weakened portions 41, 42 arranged in the width direction of the intermediate body 44, the unauthorized use indication function can be appropriately maintained. The tamper-evident protrusion 34 adjacent to the outer peripheral surface 8 of the attachment cap 4 changes from a state exposed on the outer peripheral surface 8 to a state retracted to the underside of the attachment cap 4 by reattaching the attachment cap 4 after tampering, so that traces of tampering will definitely appear. [Explanation of symbols]

[0037] 2: Discharger body 4: Mounting cap 5: Vertical groove 6: Lower end 7: Step 8: Outer periphery 10: Body portion; 10a: Vertical supply tube portion; 10b: Horizontal cylinder; 10c: Discharge port 12: piston; 13: connecting portion; 14: trigger portion; 14a: front plate portion; 14b: side plate portion 15: rear surface; 16: cover member; 18: nozzle portion; 19: nozzle hole 20: tamper-evident member; 22: exterior body; 24: surrounding ring; 26: projection receiving portion 27: connecting projection; 28: support piece; 30: rocking piece; 32: base portion; 33: circumferential connecting piece 34: Tamper evident protrusion 35: Free end 36: Pressure connector (pressure connector piece) 38...connecting arm 40...easily deformable portion 41...first weakened portion 42...second weakened portion 43: slit 44: intermediate body 44a: base portion 44b: tip portion 46: fixing end portion 48...Sliding end E: Void f: Stress g: Gap n: Claw-shaped rib r: Shrinkage 100... Container body 102... Shoulder part 104... Mouth and neck part 106... Locking protrusion

Claims

1. a dispenser body (2) having an attachment cap (4) for attachment to a container body (100) containing liquid, and a trigger part (14) that is swingable in the front-back direction and disposed forward of the attachment cap (4); a nozzle portion (18) disposed on the front side of the dispenser body (2) and opening a nozzle hole (19) for spraying the liquid in the container body (100); a tamper-evident member (20) attached to the dispenser body (2) and having an intermediate member (44) arranged horizontally in a space (E) between the mounting cap (4) and the trigger portion (14) when the trigger portion (14) is not operated; The intermediate body (44) has a long shape in the front-to-rear direction, and its rear end serves as a fixed end (46) supported in conjunction with the mounting cap (4), and is configured so that, upon operation of the trigger portion (14), the intermediate body (44) tilts forward and downward from a state in which it extends forward from the fixed end (46) and is irreversibly displaced. This trigger-type dispenser is characterized in that it is configured so that,

2. The tamper-evident member (20) is formed of an exterior body (22) fitted around the mounting cap (4) and the intermediate body (44) protruding forward from the exterior body (22) via an easily deformable portion (40) continuing to the fixing end portion (46), The trigger-type dispenser of claim 1, characterized in that the easily deformable portion (40) is irreversibly plastically deformed by the operation of the trigger portion (14) causing a sliding end portion (48), which is the front end portion of the intermediate body (44), to slide downward along the trigger portion (14).

3. The trigger-type dispenser of claim 2, characterized in that the easily deformable portion (40) is formed as a plurality of weakened portions (41, 42) spaced apart from each other in the width direction of the intermediate body (44) between the fixing end portion (46) and the outer casing (22), and a slit (43) is drilled between the fixing end portion (46) and the outer casing (22) in a portion other than these weakened portions (41, 42).

4. The tamper-evident member (20) includes an exterior body (22) provided around the mounting cap (4) which is attached to a neck portion (104) erected from a shoulder portion (102) of the container body (100); The exterior body (22) has a flexible tamper-evident protrusion (34) disposed in a pre-opening position adjacent to the outer peripheral surface (8) of the lower end side of the mounting cap (4), The trigger-type dispenser according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that when the attachment cap (4) is attached to the neck portion (104), the outer casing (22) is pressed against the shoulder portion (102), and the tamper-evident protrusion (34) is biased inward by receiving an upward and outward stress at the pressed point, and that when the attachment cap (4) is removed from the neck portion (104), the tamper-evident protrusion (34) is formed so as to remain tilted inward from the pre-opening position.

5. The trigger-type dispenser according to claim 4, characterized in that the exterior body (22) is formed by connecting a rocking piece (30) to a surrounding ring (24) that surrounds the neck portion (104) via an outward support piece (28), and this rocking piece (30) has the tamper-evident protrusion (34) on its upper side and a pressure contact piece (36) for contacting the shoulder portion (102) on its lower side, and when the attachment cap (4) is attached to the neck portion (104), the pressure contact piece (36) is pressed against the shoulder portion (102), thereby pressing the tamper-evident protrusion (34) against the outer circumferential surface (8), and when the attachment cap (4) is removed, the rocking piece (30) is configured to irreversibly tilt inward.

Images